Arch-support



W. N. SECHLER.

ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1 921.

1,391,584. PatntedSept. 20,1921.

Z67 INVENTOR AT'I'ORNEY WILLIAM N. SECHLER, OF. FORT SCOTT, KANSAS.

ARCH-SUPPORT.

Application filed February 5, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. SEGHLER,

" a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Scott, in the county of Bourbon and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to arch supports and has for an object the provision of a device intended to be built into a shoe for the prevention of fallen arches and to correct that condition where already present.

Another object is the provision of an arch support which, when built into a shoe will embody all of the advantages of a stifi shank shoe and yet not permit the arch of the foot to become inactive, the construction and function of the device being such as toproduce a massaging action upon the foot and thus stimulate and improve blood circulation.

Another object is the provision of an arch support whose construction embodies a hinge capable of only a limited movement in one direction, a locking action being produced so that when the weight of the body is placed upon the foot, the heel will be prevented from running over or backward. 1

With the aboveand other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section through a portion of a shoe showing the support in depressed position.

'Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the hinge action of the support.

F ig; 3 is a plan view of the support removed from the shoe.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the front section of the support.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the rear. section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a support which is adapted to be built into the shank 11 of the shoe. This support includes a front section 12 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Serial No. 442,770.

a rear section 13, which are connected by a hlnge 14 of novel formation. The front section 12 is shaped to fit beneath the ball of the foot, while the rear section 13 con nects with the front section beneath the arch of the foot and extends back beneath the heel.

The hinge 14 comprises spaced tongues 15 which extend from the adjacent ends of the front and rear sections 12 and 13, the said tongues 15 of the section being alternately arranged, so that the tongues of one section will be received within spaces 16 provided between the tongues of the other section. The tongues 15 have their extremities downwardly curved as shown at 15 and these downwardly curved extremities of the tongues fit over the adjacent edges of the sections 12 and 13 so that during the action of walking, the sections are permitted a hinged movement and in addition are permitted relative longitudinal movement, This provides for a movement of the arch portion of the shoe beneath the arch of the foot, permitting the arch of the shoe to move upward and downward so that a massaging action upon the arch of the foot is effected, the downward movement of the shoe arch however being limited by the engagement of the curved extremity 17 upon the upper faces of the sections 12 and 13, so that the arch of the foot is held firmly supported after the manner of support afiorded by a shoe having a stiff shank.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is i 1. An arch support formed of separate sections and spaced tongues extending from the adjacent edges of the sections, the

tongues of one section fitting within the sections, spaced tongues extending from the adjacent edges of the sections and downwardly curved extremities formed onsaid tongues, the tongues of one section fitting within the spaces between the tongues of the other section and the downwardly curved extremities of said tongues overlying'the said adjacent edges of the sections to connect the latter in a manner to permit of limited relative pivotal and longitudinal 10 movement. 7 e

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' WILLIAM N. SECHLER. 

